EM wave polarized in the time direction?

AI Thread Summary
Polarizing an electromagnetic (EM) wave in the time direction is not feasible as time is not a vector quantity and lacks directional degrees of freedom. While photons can be polarized in four directions, the longitudinal and time-like polarizations only manifest as virtual particles. This limitation highlights the fundamental differences between spatial and temporal dimensions in physics. Consequently, the concept of time-based polarization remains theoretical and not applicable in practical scenarios. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for further exploration in electromagnetic theory.
cuallito
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Is it possible to polarize an EM wave in the time direction as you would in any of the spatial dimentions?
 
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cuallito said:
Is it possible to polarize an EM wave in the time direction as you would in any of the spatial dimentions?

Time is not a vector quantity nor does it have degrees of freedom in its direction of progression.
 
Actually photons can be polarised in all 4 directions but the longitudinal and time-like polarisations only exist as virtual particles.
 
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